ON DAHLIAS 151 



even as garden plants. The demand for novelties tends 

 to slacken rather than grow keener as the years pass, 

 and that is an unfailing sign of waning interest on the 

 part of the public. What is the reason of it ? Perhaps 

 it may be explained partly by the increased interest in 

 Sweet Peas and early Chrysanthemums, and partly by 

 the development of late-blooming Roses. With the 

 growth of Sweet Peas in public favour more attention 

 has been given to their culture, and it has been found 

 that it is quite easy to continue the display of these 

 beautiful flowers into September. There are many more 

 early-blooming Chrysanthemums than there were, and 

 the range of colours has been extended. As to Roses, 

 the great development of the Hybrid Tea Section has 

 put at the service of the flower-gardener a large number 

 of varieties which bloom well into September, and there 

 is no difficulty nowadays in making a large and beautiful 

 display of Roses in the latter month. 



Sweet Peas, Chrysanthemums, and Roses alike have 

 one great advantage over Dahlias they are more suitable 

 for vases, and perhaps this goes a good way to explain 

 the lukewarmness towards the old autumn favourite 

 which causes florists so much disquietude. The latter, 

 however, have been gravely at fault in one respect 

 they have developed the Dahlia as a show rather than as 

 a garden flower. Sometimes the two elements run in 

 conjunction. A good Sweet Pea is often, though not 

 always, a good garden plant. In the case of Dahlias the 

 flowers have been made too heavy for the stalks, with 

 the result that the blooms hang down and are half or 

 wholly hidden by the leaves ; with this condition a 

 variety is defective as a garden plant. 



The remedy is in the hands of the florists. It is 

 possible to breed varieties with strong stalks. At first 



